Samuel Mosesanthony Thiagarajan

Samuel Moses Anthony Thiagarajan
January 11, 2014

"A man arrested (captured) by Jesus Christ"
"But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory in Christ Jesus after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." 1 Peter 5:10 KJV

This was his Bible Promise for 2014. God blessed him and fulfilled it. He is now rejoicing in His presence. (1 John 3:2,3)

He was known as Appa (Father), Mama (uncle in Tamil), Thatha (grandfather in Tamil), Big Thatha, Uncle Sam, Brother Sam, Annan (big brother in Tamil). He was a man who loved Jesus Christ and a sinner redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. His love for God's Word played a prominent role in His life. He wanted everyone to know that Jesus died and rose again to give new life to sinners.

Samuel Moses Anthony Thiagarajan (SMAT) was born in Erode, Tamil Nadu, South India on June 16, 1924, to Pastor Perinbam Raphael Samuel, who was impacted by the life of Sadhu Sundar Singh in 1918, and Manoharam, who was known as a Bible woman and a prayer warrior. Both of them and many of his siblings are in the presence of Jesus Christ.

Appa went peacefully into the presence of His Lord on January 11, 2014, from his Bethany home near Syracuse, NY. His first wife Chandra Hannah preceded him at the age of 33 on December 21, 1965, in New Delhi, India. He had three sons, Ashoka Rajasekhar (Shaker), Suresh, and Ranjan Joshua (Joshi), who are now in their sixties and residing in the US (Southern Illinois and Syracuse, NY).

On May 1973, he married Ruth Lois Stam, a missionary and teacher among Tibetans in India. She was born in Zaire (Congo), Africa, to missionaries Harry and Alma, and was the niece of John and Betty Stam, who lost their lives in 1934 while serving the Lord Jesus Christ in China. Ruth preceded him in August 2012. Her grandfather Peter Stam, an immigrant from Holland, from a family of saloon keepers, came to know Jesus Christ as a young man and founded the Star of Hope Mission in Paterson, NJ.

Appa was a great man of God who loved the Lord Jesus Christ. His favorite book was the Bible. He yielded his life as a teenager and served him faithfully as a servant in the Central Government of India. He took early retirement during the mid-1970's after his marriage to Ruth to serve the Lord Jesus Christ among students in the US. He traveled to many parts of the world, in particular to Outer Mongolia over 10-12 times since 1992. He had students and families who loved him from all over the world. He gave generously and invested his time, treasure, and talent joyfully. He was a man captured by God and consistent to the end, who finished his course well and was satisfied. (II Cor. 5:9; Acts 20:24; 2 Tim 4:6-8) He was grateful to God for his family, loved them very much, and was proud of them. He gave the best to God and everyone.

Siblings he left behind include his three sisters, Kamala, Violet, and Saroja in Chennai (Madras), India, and their families. Lily, Chandra Paul, and Sakuntala preceded him.

Surviving immediate family members are son Shaker and his wife Nicolette, and their children Hannah Joy in Murphysboro, Illinois, Joel in Columbus, Lauren and husband Justin Unger in Echoing Hills, Ohio; son Suresh and his wife Ramani in Dewitt, NY, and their children Chitra and husband Lucas Swygard, their sons James(8) and David (4) of Richmond, VA, and Vivek and wife Elizabeth, their daughter Ava Grace (6 months) of Webster, NY; son Joshua (Joshi) and wife Annie in Dewitt, NY, and their children Anand and wife Jessica of Fayetteville, NY who are expecting a son in mid-May, and Ajeet in Dewitt, NY. All of his children know and love the Lord Jesus Christ.

Calling hours will be held on Friday from 4-8pm at New Comer Funeral Home, 705 N. Main St., North Syracuse. Services will be held on Sat. 10am at International Friendship Center, 4274 LaFayette Rd., Jamesville, NY 13078. Burial to follow at White Chapel, DeWitt, NY, (near Shopping Town Mall).
In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to I.F.E., 4274 LaFayette Rd., Jamesville, NY 13078.

We are grateful to each one of our family, friends from church, and others who have been a great encouragement and blessing to dad in his time of need and to us as a family.

We want to make a special mention of thanks to PACE of CNY for all their workers and staff who have done an excellent service to our dad. Each one was precious and enhanced his quality of life. Thank you PACE.